1980 01 00 OMNI - Vallee interview

Magazine Overview

This issue of OMNI magazine features an in-depth interview with information scientist Jacques Vallee, whose work explores the UFO phenomenon from unconventional perspectives. The cover prominently displays the interview title and Vallee's name, accompanied by a striking black and white photograph.

Interview with Jacques Vallee

The interview begins with Vallee reflecting on his early career and a pivotal experience in 1961 at the Paris Observatory where an unidentified object was detected, and the data was subsequently erased. This event led him to question the prevailing skepticism surrounding UFOs.

Vallee outlines his evolution from focusing on the physical aspects of UFOs to examining the broader social and psychological dimensions. He argues that the public is bored with the traditional debate of whether UFOs are real or not, and is seeking a new approach. He posits that if enough people believe something to be real, it becomes real in its consequences, a concept he calls 'conditioning'.

He introduces three alternative hypotheses for the UFO phenomenon, explored in his book "Messengers of Deception":

1. Covert Human Operation: UFO phenomena could be simulated using advanced technology, possibly by governments or a coalition of intelligence agencies, drawing parallels to World War II deception operations.
2. Radically Different Technology: The phenomenon might stem from a technology fundamentally different from our current understanding, perhaps involving accidental discovery of interdimensional travel or parallel physics.
3. Communication Attempt: UFOs could represent an attempt at communication from extraterrestrial intelligences, but one that is 'leaked' in a precise and elusive way, functioning as a 'control system' or 'conditioning process'.

Vallee discusses the characteristics of UFO sightings, noting that witnesses often describe lights, colors, and shapes rather than conventional craft. He mentions electromagnetic energy, particularly microwaves, and peculiar beam behaviors. He also highlights physiological effects on witnesses, such as disorientation, loss of time, and visual hallucinations, suggesting these could be induced by physical stimuli.

He addresses the concept of 'cover-ups', stating that while he doesn't believe in a grand, organized conspiracy, data is often suppressed by individuals unwilling to confront the unknown. He notes that UFO groups sometimes hoard information, and he found more access to official air force files than to those of amateur organizations.

Vallee is particularly intrigued by close encounter cases involving occupants. He recounts the case of Herbert Shirmer, a highway patrolman, whose hypnotic regression revealed an experience that seemed to alter his perception of reality, raising questions about whether such experiences could be technologically induced, even by human technology.

He emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach to studying UFOs, focusing on physics, physiology, and especially sociology. Vallee believes that the rising expectation of contact with alien intelligence is a powerful cultural force that science has largely ignored, contributing to a credibility gap.

He expresses his current research approach, which involves financing his own work and collaborating with a small group of scientists, focusing on unpublished cases. He acknowledges that his radical approach may not please traditional UFO enthusiasts who expect literal alien landings.

Vallee also touches upon the idea of 'spacecraft' using time and space in ways that challenge current physics, but notes that theoretical physicists find such concepts plausible for microscopic and macroscopic objects.

He concludes by suggesting that our current understanding of physics, particularly the reliance on Cartesian coordinates, might be a cultural artifact that limits our ability to comprehend phenomena like UFOs. He sees UFO experiences as complex informational events that challenge our models of the universe and offer opportunities to construct alternative ones.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue highlights OMNI's commitment to exploring cutting-edge scientific and speculative topics. The interview with Jacques Vallee exemplifies the magazine's tendency to challenge conventional wisdom and present complex ideas from diverse viewpoints. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider new hypotheses and multidisciplinary approaches to unexplained phenomena, rather than adhering to established, often polarized, viewpoints.